芸齋 尹濟述의 敎育과 政治思想

Abstract

This paper presents a discussion about the life and ideology of Woonjae Yun Je-sul that left a significant market in the modern history of education and politics. He was well-read in the scriptures of Confucianism as a child and started to study under Ganjae Jeon Woo in Gyehwado at the age of 15. He later moved to Japan where he majored in English literature at Tokyo Higher School of Education. He served in the community of education for 25 years and devoted himself to the political world after Liberation. He became a member of the National Assembly that served six straight terms. He kept evolving from a scholar of old study to that of new study, from a teacher to an educationist, and from an educationist to a politician, leaving a huge mark in the modern history of Korea. His educational ideology can be summarized in one word "truth" or "Seong(誠)." Truth can be replaced with the "state of no deceiving oneself." He took "truth" as his educational ideology and proposed a specific idea of practice that was "being consistent with truth and sincerity." It came out of his conviction that it was an answer to the request of the times and that there could be no more profound teaching than "truth." He then elaborated on his educational ideology with "loyalty" and "Jingi," both of which are Confucian concepts and have something to do with internal truthfulness. "Truth," which he practiced as a lifelong motto for education, shows how important it is for a teacher to set an example with his or her act. Yoon's political ideas were based on the moral politics of Confucianism. He believed that Joseon would be able to solve the national crisis and social issues only through moral politics basically. He had a circular view of the world, which maintained that both education and politics should help to set people right and that right people should make up the society and the state and enjoy a full happy life in the society and the state. Leading a political life, he made clear sources and put an emphasis on the spirit of classical scholars. Although his political ideology emphasized morality, made clear sources, and was based on the spirit of classical scholars that remained loyal to their principles, he claimed that politics must have an educational purpose. It was his belief that politics and education could resolve social confusion and ensure the well-being and happy life of the nation when they fundamentally had the same purposes. In the modern history of Korea, Yun Je-sul is considered as a truthful educationist and politician that practiced his straight faith and the spirit of classical scholars. Although the times changed, he did not let the Confucian spirit that he learned as a child fade away. He practiced himself the idea that the value of truth and justice should always be guarded even in the rapidly changing reality. He did not succumb to the dismal times and practiced the Confucian spirit consistently both in education and politics, thus holding huge significance to modern people today.